The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1887-12-09
lRI0T TN THIBODAUE
White Piokets Attacked
by Negroes in
Ambush.
Two Men of the Guard seri-
ously wounded.
The Citizens Turn Out En- Hasse to
Resist the Attack.
Summary Eengeance Ereaked Upon
the AssailaniS.
Six Negroes Killed Outright and as Many
Fatally Wounded.
A Review Of the Causes That Led TO
Summary Vengeance Wreaked Upon
the AssailaniS.
A Review Of the Causes That Led 20
the Affair."
The TpNn EOw Quiet and No Further Trouble
Expected,

! THlBoDAux, Nov. g3.-The continued
threats of the negro strikers in this parish
to attack this town eliminated this morning
| ina bloody fight, in which six Of the negroes
were killed and five wounded, aud two yonng
white men seriously hurt.
| After the meeting OF the sugar planters
and other prominent citizens on Sunday, the
/ Insre violent Of the negroes openly made
threats TO burn the town and commit other
/ depredations. The citizens of ThibodauX,
/ knowing the inhamed condition Of the
! strikers, al once took steps to protect their
lives and property. For the past few days
white citizens from all parts of the parish
/ have been coming to PhibodanE.
! On Sunday night the situation had be-
come 90 serious that q number Of the bsst
| youRg men of the town and parish were
sworn in as deputy sheriffs and picketed on
the approaches to the place.
Monday afternoon and night alarming re-
ports continued TO come in and the excite
ment increased, HousehOldere, not feeling
secure even with the protection Of the cor
don around the town, stood guard ali night
or only caught brief snatcbeB Of sloep. More
tiInid women were
UNABLE TO SLEEP At ALL
and many have not closed their eyea since
they arose Monday morning. 1'he whole
town has been under 3 strain OF great M
eRslness, which was increased from Ihe fact
that no one know when the attack would
take place.
Yesterday evening information was re-
reelyed from reliable sources that the negroes
were combining aud that the atbael, would
be made last night. The Gordon Of piekets
was engtAened, and the coming Of the
negroes RnGloHsly awaited The night wore
on, however, and there was no sign Of tTou-
bic. The day dawned, the sun arose, and
the men WIG had stood guard al night over
tie lives and properly OF their kindred were
preparing to go to their homes, when the
sharp crack OF rifles, mingled with the rattle
Of ahOtguns, aBole the lew citizens of the
town who were aRleep and told the men on
guard that
THE FIGHT HAD BEGUN.
The outmost picket guarding the town
consisted of two Of Thibodau1is most re-
spectacle young meH-Messrs. John j. Cor
man aud Henry MQtRison. These two were
posted considerably in advance of the others,
and, the might aIr bsinR chilly, had built
5OIltiTe and were standing near it, q bout z
O'clock they were fired upon BY p6rtyaf
negroes I'D AMBUSH, who had evidently con-
bonfire. As the report Of the guns rang out
DOM men TEL 70 the ground seriously
wounded, RiE, German With a bullet IN his
head, which entered near the eye, and Mr..
MolalsQn With a severe wound in the leg.
As already stated, this yOlley alarmed the
rest Of the guard and the whole town, and
the former Immediately rushed to the scene
Of the firing. Two yonnR meD posted near
the wounded men soon reached them, and
Immediately took steps looking 70 their re-
lief. While they were ttIus assisting the
wounded another yoIias wss fired upon them
by the negroes, but fortunately It did NO
damage.
In few minutes the entire guard around
the town had rushed to the danger point
aud other citizens began to assemble with
such weapons as they could huIriedly Law
their hands on. As they assembled around
the wounded men, half of them nHconseieug
Of how the wounds had been received, there
A THIRD yoII4EY
from the negroes in ambush. This yolIey,
IKE the second did no damage. but served
to unmask the assAilsnts and to indicate 10
the citizens, who had gathered hastily with
We knowledge only that there was danger
somewhere, exactly where that danger lay. n
There was an instant and prompt reply TO
the VQlley, and general suslade was poured
Into the RANKS Of the negrpes In few min
utas the tight had ended. The negroes Re-
phed feebly 10 the IRE OF tie whites az first,
put soon became Ranie-sIrieken aud lied Is
the woods.
AFTER EHE RAT1ilE
the widest Fum0ra were atl0at as to the num-
yer Killed. AT nrHt i was stated that from
FlLteen5t 70 twenty live negroes had lost their
lives and that q laEga number were wounded \
After thorough search By the coroner as
sisted by other citizens, however, Il WIS
found. that 9nly Sax q the attacking party
had been killed ana 1--WE wounded The two
young men who went down under the first
Yolleg were the only white men hurt
IheEe was CREST deal of excitement in
Town aila thfgngllont this aeetiDn during the
day, but to-nlRat AL II quiet. AZ matter 81
preoaution, however, the town Is still qilard
ed by q Gordon VI armed piekete, anu an the
WINE men III town&re under arlna actinp A.
deputy sheritts.